The Jackson County School System trimmed athletic expenses when it made across-the-board cuts during its recent financial shortfall, according to superintendent Shannon Adams.

Last week, a former president of the Jackson County Comprehensive High School Touchdown Club, Redd Howe, questioned the board of education about expenses for assistant athletic directors at the district’s two high schools.

Howe also questioned a “secret” fund created by former JCCHS principal Todd McGhee and former athletic director Joe Lancaster, who remains an assistant principal at the school. That fund siphoned coaching supplements and possibly totaled $40,000 to $80,000, Howe claimed at the meeting.

Howe asked that Adams provide a written account of the funds, those involved and a sequence of events. Adams wrote that statement to Howe the day after the board of education meeting and provided a copy to The Jackson Herald following a request.

In the letter, Adams wrote that he hopes to clear up some “pretty significant misconceptions.”

Adams wrote that when the school system was in its worst financial state, officials realized that interscholastic athletic programs would have to be cut, along with a number of other expenses.

The Jackson County School System ended its 2009 fiscal year with a $908,600 shortfall, and cut its expenses in the district through layoffs (called Reduction in Force plans) and closing its Regional Evening School, among other cuts.

As Dr. Adams wrote to me in his letter, and reported on by the Herald, he said I had "some pretty significant misconceptions" concerning where Asst. AD coaches supplement funds were coming from, how they were derived, and generally there is no "secret slush fund."

To cut to the heart of this matter, what the average reader needs to know, Dr. Adams letter to me and the above article, only addresses the process of how the Asst. AD's got their $2,500 coaching supplements. What Dr. Adams isn't saying or addressing is; why is each Asst. AD also getting paid a highly valued and sought after 11-month extended contract? That is what he, board member Michael Cronic, and the rest of the school board have refused to address. All they will talk about is two coaches supplements .

You see, Dr. Adams did not share with the newspaper that on Wednesday 9/21 he responded to a previous email from me by breaking down the total pay structure for both Asst. AD's. The details reveal both have an 11-month extended contract. This is what they don't want to talk about. Why do they have 1l month contracts, from what fund(s) is it coming from, and who created and authorized the contracts? I want to know that history.

Ultimately, what Dr. Adams, Michael Cronic, and by default the entire school board is doing, is to lay a smokescreen by only describing the cuts or 'freezing' of $80,250 from the athletic department in the 'Reduction of Force Plan.' I get that. I understand how that happened and it helps me understand how the coaches supplements came to be.

Now all they have to justify is the two (2) 11-month extended contracts that pays Jason Powers $5,208.80 & $6,404.10 respectively.

At this time, I think Dr. Adams is right. There probably is no secret fund or slush fund. What is interesting is how all of that came do be.

It started one hour before I was to give a prepared speech to the school board on Monday 9/19. Michael Cronic returned my earlier text to call me. I told him I was prepared to speak to the board and asked him if there was any new information I should know before I speak.

Mr. Cronic said the board chairperson had just called him and told him it would be better to keep the two (2) Asst. AD's contracts and let them expire at the end of the school year. That if they did cancel the contracts the school system could have litigation brought upon them and ultimately have to pay alot of legal fees and and in the end (probably) still have to pay for the contracts. He said the chairperson had already convinced the other board members, and hopefully him, to "let it go" and "revisit it in April." Cut the positions then and their losses now.

Mr. Cronic went on to say how the two (2) AD's cut $80,000+ dollars a couple of years ago and did it to "ultimately benefit themselves." I asked him if that meant "enrich themselves" and he would not elaborate. He also said the two AD's had "siphoned off funds" from coaches supplements and other... and formed some kind of 'slush fund.' Again, he said it was ultimately done to benefit themselves.

Now folks, what Mr. Cronic said is exactly the truth of the conversation. I told him I didn't understand what the heck he was really talking about. He was very vague and not into details. I asked him to explain it to me again. Again he did saying the same things. I told him I still didn't really understand what he meant by all of this. When we hung up, I still didn't understand why did told me all of this and wondered what his motivation was by even calling me with it.

I started understanding it better when I got in the car and started driving to the school board meeting. It hit me, he's telling me all of this to:

1. Hoping I might just "let it go" too, and just maybe I might decide to not speak before the board that night.

2. If I was still going to speak, it might throw me off my prepared speech, make me throw wild 'slush fund' accusations around, and generally try to make me look like I have made up some outlandish secret story. It's just another tactic and strategy for 'attacking the messenger.'

I have to admit, that was very slick of Mr. Cronic and to some degree it worked. I spoke before the school board, told them Mr. Cronic told me these things and I just didn't understand. Help me understand... So here's to Mr. Cronic - that was pretty artful, but not completely successful. I still made my points and concerns and I'll be more aware around him in the future.

What Mr. Cronic's phone call also helped me understand is; he has known all along the financial payment structure and sources used to pay these two (2) Asst. AD's. But he and Dr. Adams always said they didn't know where the money to fund the positions was coming from. I now, absolutely believe and know Dr. Adams, Mr. Cronic, and the school board have known all along, and are keeping it all close to their vest.

So, now all that really needs to be answered, are the my above questions. Be transparent and accountable and tell us all about the two (2) 11-month extended contracts and it's history. That is what we want to know.

In conclusion, at the end of the school board meeting, Mr. Cronic made the statement, "...and I don't appreciate you video-taping the board meeting." Yes, he really said it and he's on tape saying it. How sad and sweet all at the same time. They'll be on video again next month too.

Mr. Howe how many systems our size have asst. AD's? I would think NONE! Dr. Adams and this board has a history of lining the pockets of their own. I am now and have been amazed by the HR position, the food services position, and I'm sure it goes on and on.

I checked on every school in our 8-AA region and not a single one of them have a assistant athletic director position. In my presentation to the school board this month I stated this to them. As expected, they didn't respond to that truth. They know they can't justify it, so they don't address it. Mums the word.

Yes, it does go on and on. Unless citizens/parents or school employees let people like me know (confidentially) where the problems are, then the problems will likely stay hidden. These people are key to bringing "problems" to the forefront. If you don't help yourself, you won't be helped.

Correction to my original post in paragraph 2 - last sentence. I wrote, "All they will talk about is two coaches supplements." It should have stated instead, "All they will talk about is the two Asst. AD supplements."

Another point the public needs to know. After speaking at the school board meeting this month, my school board member has refused to communicate w/ me. Two days after the board meeting, I texted Mr. Cronic and asked him, "We need to talk face to face very soon, are you willing? I'm flexible, let me know when and where." Mr. Cronic responded back by text and said, "No Redd I'm sorry I'm not." After one more try to get him to communicate with me a few days later, he still hasn't responded.

I tell the public this because he is my school board representative. A school board member, regardless of how much they do not like what I bring forward, does not have the right or luxury to cease communicating with one of his constituents. He is a publicly elected official and he serves at our pleasure. It will be interesting to see how long Mr. Cronic continues to ignore a citizen (me) who has concerns about the school system, for which he presides over.

Most schools pay a athletic secretary about $30,000 a year when you add in benifits. If you want to talk about extended contracts, then why does the Head Football Coach get a 12 month contract and the two coordinators get 11 months?
It seems to me you yourself are attacking one person. Why not question all of the extended contracts? Or is it that you stepped down from the Touchdown Club and do not want to state the full truth?
It seems your knowledge is backed by word of mouth and heresay. I only hope that the true Panther Nation is not flying of the edge like you sir because the only thing you are doing is making Jackson County look bad and Jefferson that much more of a better place to be.

PS.... Last time I checked Ga State and Educational Law, the Board of Education vote on policy not make it. No real Board would ever envolve itself in the day to day operations like you are stating. If a board member is, then they are flirting with boarder line ethical violations of an elected position

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